Venous access catheters and methods for portal venous system catheterization

Abstract

The present invention contemplates devices and methods to administer nutritional compositions and/or therapeutic drugs directly into a portal venous system. For example, total parenteral nutrition therapy may be administered directly into the hepatic portal venous system thus circumventing known side effects of conventional parenteral administration. Alternatively, hepatic diseases and disorders may be treated using locally administered therapeutic drugs. Devices capable of direct portal venous system administration include, but are not limited to, a direct portal access catheter or a transjugular access catheter.

I claim: 
     
       1. A direct portal vein access catheter device comprising a catheter body having a proximal end, a distal end, a main lumen, wherein said main lumen extends from said proximal end to said distal end, and a balloon-fill lumen, wherein said balloon-fill lumen extends from a balloon-fill hub to an anchor balloon, wherein said anchor balloon is insertable into a portal vein and inflatable to engage said portal vein and prevent dislodgement; a subcutaneous connection hub at said proximal end comprising an infusion lumen port connected to said main lumen and said balloon-fill hub, and a connector that interfaces said main lumen to said infusion lumen port and said balloon-fill lumen to said balloon-fill hub. 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1 , wherein said catheter body is further configured with a tissue penetrator. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 1 , wherein said device further comprises an imaging apparatus attached to said catheter body. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 1 , wherein said anchor balloon is contained at said distal end of said catheter body. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 1 , wherein said catheter body is surrounded by a hemostatic clamp. 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 1 , wherein said catheter body is surrounded by a ring slide for securing the catheter body proximal end to the subcutaneous connection hub. 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 1 , wherein said catheter body has an initial length that is cut to size for a given patient. 
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 1 , wherein said connector further comprises a metal connector. 
     
     
       9. The device of  claim 8 , wherein said subcutaneous connection hub is removable. 
     
     
       10. The device of  claim 9  further comprising a ring slide about said catheter body for securing the catheter body proximal end to the metal connector. 
     
     
       11. The device of  claim 8 , further comprising a hemostatic clamp mounted about the catheter body, said hemostatic clamp having a closed state to prevent a flow through said main lumen when said subcutaneous connection hub is not connected. 
     
     
       12. The device of  claim 1 , wherein said infusion lumen port is configured perpendicular in relation to said balloon-fill hub. 
     
     
       13. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the catheter body further comprises a central venous lumen having a proximal end connected to said subcutaneous connection hub, and a terminal end located between said main lumen distal end and said proximal end. 
     
     
       14. The device of  claim 13 , wherein said central venous lumen terminal end is approximately 12 cm from the catheter body distal end. 
     
     
       15. The device of  claim 13 , wherein the subcutaneous connection hub infusion lumen port further comprises a first infusion lumen connected to said main lumen, and a second infusion lumen connected to said central venous lumen, and said balloon-hub connected to said balloon-fill lumen. 
     
     
       16. The device of  claim 15 , further comprising a metal connector interposed between said subcutaneous connection hub and said catheter interfacing said central venous lumen to said first infusion lumen, said main lumen to said second infusion lumen, and said balloon-fill lumen to said balloon-fill hub, wherein the subcutaneous connection hub is removable. 
     
     
       17. The device of  claim 15 , further comprising a hemostatic clamp mounted about the catheter body, said hemostatic clamp having a closed state to prevent a flow through said main lumen when said subcutaneous connection hub is not connected. 
     
     
       18. The device of  claim 1  wherein said main lumen does not overlap said balloon-fill lumen.